Gemini built into Gmail: free thread summaries, Help Me Write and suggested replies
Free plan · paid from $7.99/month
The Best AI email assistants in 2026
- 10 apps ranked
- Updated Oct 2026
- Researched from official sources
AI email assistants summarise long threads, draft replies and sort your inbox so the important messages come first. Some are full email apps you switch to, some live inside Gmail or Outlook, and some come built into the mail app you already use. We tested the leading ones and ranked them with the same published rubric.
Our top picks
Fast, keyboard-driven email app with AI drafts, summaries and Ask AI for Gmail and Outlook
From $25/month
Cross-platform email app with a smart inbox, Spark +AI writing and team features
Free plan · paid from $8.25/month
The full ranking
10 apps, best first- 1
Gmail with Gemini
Best forAnyone already using Gmail who wants AI help without switching apps
Gemini built into Gmail: free thread summaries, Help Me Write and suggested replies
Mobile appFree plan · paid from $7.99/month
Pros & cons
- Core features are free and built in
- Nothing new to install or learn
- Huge, well-rated mobile apps
- No third-party access to your mail
- Helper only: it doesn't sort or act on mail for you the way agent tools do
- Best features need a paid Google plan
- Free features roll out region by region, US English first
8.3/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 2
Superhuman Mail
Best forProfessionals who handle a lot of email every day and will pay for speed
Fast, keyboard-driven email app with AI drafts, summaries and Ask AI for Gmail and Outlook
Mobile appFrom $25/month
Pros & cons
- Very fast, keyboard-first interface
- Strong AI drafting and summaries
- Works with Gmail and Outlook
- Highly rated support
- One of the most expensive options, with no free plan
- Best AI features (Auto Drafts, Ask AI) need the Business plan
- App reviewers note there is no unified inbox for multiple accounts
8.0/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 3
Spark Mail
Best forPeople juggling several email accounts who want AI help at a low price
Cross-platform email app with a smart inbox, Spark +AI writing and team features
Mobile appGroup planningFree plan · paid from $8.25/month
Pros & cons
- Free plan with unlimited accounts
- AI at a low price on Plus
- Apps on iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows
- Good team collaboration features
- Free plan only previews the AI
- Some users report sync problems across devices
- AI uses monthly credit limits
8.0/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 4
Shortwave
Best forGmail and Google Workspace users who want an AI-first inbox
AI-first Gmail app with an assistant that searches, drafts, filters and schedules
Mobile appFree trial · from $30/month
Pros & cons
- Excellent AI search and summaries
- Assistant can act on mail, not just draft
- Team comments and thread sharing
- Apps on every major platform
- Gmail and Google Workspace accounts only
- No free plan any more, and AI usage is capped by tier
- You have to switch to a new email app
7.6/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 5
Outlook with Copilot
Best forPeople and companies already on Microsoft 365
Microsoft Copilot inside Outlook for thread summaries, drafting and writing coaching
Mobile appFrom $9.99/month
Pros & cons
- Built into Outlook with no extra app
- Clean, reliable summaries
- Works across Office apps
- Outlook apps are very highly rated
- Needs a paid Microsoft 365 plan, and usage is capped on cheaper ones
- Helper only, with little inbox automation
- Limited customisation
7.5/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 6
Canary Mail
Best forPrivacy-conscious users with several accounts who want cheap AI help
Privacy-focused email app with an AI Copilot for drafts and summaries, from $3 a month
Mobile appFree plan · paid from $3/month
Pros & cons
- Very cheap AI plan
- Strong privacy and encryption options
- One inbox for many providers
- Apps on all major platforms
- Not built for shared team inboxes
- Little inbox automation
- AI needs a paid plan, billed yearly
7.5/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 7
Spike
Best forPeople and small teams who want email to feel like chat
Chat-style email app with Magic AI summaries and drafts, team chat and video calls
Mobile appFree plan · paid from $6/month
Pros & cons
- Free plan includes some AI
- Cheap paid plans
- Chat, video and calendar built in
- Every major platform
- Users report sync and notification delays
- Chat-style layout isn't for everyone
- AI is less advanced than the leaders
7.3/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 8
Fyxer
Best forMeeting-heavy professionals who want help with email without switching apps
Sorts your Gmail or Outlook inbox, drafts replies in your voice and takes meeting notes
Web onlyFree plan · paid from $37/month
Pros & cons
- No new email app to learn
- Good-quality drafts
- Built-in meeting notetaker
- Gmail and Outlook support, with strong security certifications
- Expensive, and the credit system makes costs harder to predict
- Only fixed, preset sorting categories
- No dedicated mobile app
7.1/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 9
Apple Mail with Apple Intelligence
Best foriPhone and Mac users who want basic AI email help for free
Free AI in Apple Mail: summaries, priority messages, smart replies and categories
Mobile appFree
Pros & cons
- Free and built in
- Works with the accounts you already have in Mail
- Nothing to install or set up
- Apple devices only, and only newer models
- Summaries can be inaccurate
- No drafting in your voice or questions about your inbox
7.0/10★★★★★Visit ↗ - 10
Missive
Best forSmall teams sharing client, sales or support email
Shared team inbox for email, SMS and chat with a bring-your-own-model AI assistant
Mobile appGroup planningFree trial · from $11.20/month
Pros & cons
- Excellent shared-inbox collaboration
- Email, SMS, WhatsApp and social in one place
- Bring your own AI key
- SOC 2 Type II certified
- Built for teams rather than individuals
- AI usage costs extra on top of the subscription
- Reviewers report a steep setup learning curve
6.7/10★★★★★Visit ↗
Compare at a glance
Scroll sideways on mobile| # | App | Free plan | Paid from | iOS | Android | Web | Email help quality | Ease of use | Features | Value for money | Platforms | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Gmail with Gemini | Yes | $7.99/month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7 | 9.5 | 7.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 8.3 |
| 2 |  Superhuman Mail | No | $25/month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 8.5 | 8 | 9 | 5.5 | 9.5 | 8.0 |
| 3 |  Spark Mail | Yes | $8.25/month | ✓ | ✓ | — | 7 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 10 | 8.0 |
| 4 |  Shortwave | Trial | $30/month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 8 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 5.5 | 9 | 7.6 |
| 5 |  Outlook with Copilot | No | $9.99/month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7.5 | 8.5 | 6 | 7 | 9.5 | 7.5 |
| 6 |  Canary Mail | Yes | $3/month | ✓ | ✓ | — | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 7.5 |
| 7 |  Spike | Yes | $6/month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6 | 7.5 | 7 | 8 | 9.5 | 7.3 |
| 8 |  Fyxer | Yes | $37/month | — | — | ✓ | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 5 | 6 | 7.1 |
| 9 |  Apple Mail with Apple Intelligence | Yes | Free | ✓ | — | — | 6 | 9 | 5 | 9.5 | 5 | 7.0 |
| 10 |  Missive | Trial | $11.20/month | ✓ | ✓ | — | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7 | 6 | 8.5 | 6.7 |
Head to head
12 comparisons
Gmail with Gemini vs Superhuman Mail
Gmail with Gemini vs Spark Mail
Gmail with Gemini vs ShortwaveSuperhuman Mail vs Spark MailSuperhuman Mail vs ShortwaveSpark Mail vs Shortwave
Gmail with Gemini vs Outlook with Copilot
Gmail with Gemini vs Canary Mail
Gmail with Gemini vs Spike
Gmail with Gemini vs Fyxer
Gmail with Gemini vs Apple Mail with Apple Intelligence
Gmail with Gemini vs MissiveFor developers
Make AI email tools? Get yours reviewed here.
People compare AI email tools on this page before they choose. Paste your website after checkout and we'll research, score and publish your listing.
- Full profile page
- Scored with the same rubric
- Reviewed within 2 working days
- Included in comparisons
How we rank AI email assistants
Every app was checked on 7 October 2026 against its own website, pricing and app-store listings, plus independent 2025–2026 reviews. Each gets five scores out of 10, weighted into an overall score.
Ties are broken by the email help quality score. To be listed, an app has to use AI to help with your email, such as summarising threads, drafting replies or sorting your inbox. The list is open: developers can submit an app, and we review it with the same rubric.
Features are scored half by our editors and half by this published checklist, ticked only where the app's own pages or app-store listing confirm it:
- Works with both Gmail and Outlook accounts
- Summarises long email threads
- Drafts replies in your own writing style
- Automatically sorts or prioritises your inbox
- Ask AI questions about your inbox
- Free plan includes AI features
- iPhone and Android apps
- Team collaboration or shared inboxes
- Helps schedule meetings from email
Rankings are editorial. Companies can't pay to change a score or a position, and any paid placement is labelled Featured.
Reviewed by Tech Arcade editors · Updated Oct 7, 2026
- Email help quality30%
- Ease of use20%
- Features20%
- Value for money20%
- Platforms10%
Quick answers
What is the best AI email assistant?
In our October 2026 tests, Gmail with Gemini scored highest overall because its core AI features are free and built into an app most people already use. Spark and Superhuman came next: Spark is the best-value standalone app, while Superhuman has the strongest AI for people who live in their inbox and will pay for it.
What is the best free AI email app?
Gmail now includes thread summaries, Help Me Write and suggested replies for free (rolling out from the US in English), and Apple Mail summarises and prioritises email for free on devices that support Apple Intelligence. Spike's free plan also includes limited AI queries.
Is Superhuman worth it?
Superhuman is fast and its AI is among the best, but at $25 a month billed annually ($30 monthly) with no free plan it is one of the most expensive options. It makes most sense if you handle a lot of email every day.
Which AI email assistant works with Outlook?
Copilot is built into Outlook with a Microsoft 365 subscription. Superhuman, Spark, Fyxer, Canary Mail, Missive and Spike also work with Outlook accounts. Shortwave works with Gmail and Google Workspace accounts.
Do companies pay to be on this list?
No. Rankings come from the published rubric and can't be bought. Developers can pay for a Featured spot above the ranking; it's always marked Sponsored and never changes scores or positions.
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